CONV_VAX_UNIX

      To convert VAX IDL data types to UNIX (Sun,MIPS,etc.) IDL data types.

      Generally used on non-Vax machines to parse data created on Vaxes.
      The architecture is obtained from IDL sys.var. !VERSION.ARCH.

      var_unix = conv_vax_unix( var_vax, [TARGET_ARCH = ] )

      var_vax - The data variable to be converted.  This may be a scalar
            or an array.  All IDL datatypes are valid (including
            structures).   The result of the conversion is returned by the
            function.

      TARGET_ARCH = name (string) of desired target architecture
            (e.g. 'sparc' or 'mipsel').    If not supplied, then
            !VERSION.ARCH is used to determine the target architecture.
            Note that CONV_VAX_UNIX will leave variables unchanged on a
            VMS machine, unless the TARGET_ARCH keyword is set.

      Read a 100 by 100 matrix of floating point numbers from a data
      file created on a VAX.  Then convert the matrix values into Sun format.
      IDL> openr,1,'vax_float.dat'
      IDL> data = fltarr(100,100)
      IDL> readu,1,data
      IDL> data = conv_vax_unix( data )

       Prior to IDL V5.1, the architecture "alpha" was ambiguous, since VMS
       alpha IDL used VAX D-float while OSF/1 alpha IDL uses little-endian
       IEEE.    The program uses !VERSION.OS to do the right thing when
       converting to a representation appropriate for the current
       platform.  To convert to a representation appropriate for
       an OSF/1 alpha on a VAX or (pre V5.1) VMS alpha, please specify
       the "mipsel" (or "i386") architecture.

       Written   F. Varosi               August 1990
       Modified  P. Keegstra             April 1992
           Implemented MIPSEL architecture
       Modified  P. Keegstra             July 1994
           Implemented ALPHA architecture, distinguishing VMS and OSF
       Modified  P. Keegstra             February 1995
           Added 386 PC based architectures
       Modified  P. Keegstra             March 1995
           Added note, restored and fixed old specifiers
           for 386 PC based architectures
      Modified W. Landsman for VAX problems in V4.0        August 1995
      Work for double complex variables                    August 1995
      Remove informational messages under VMS              August 1997
      Since V5.1, IDL VMS uses little endian IEEE          June 1998
      Convert to IDL V5.0                                  June 1998

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